A Cataract Canyon rafting trip down the Colorado River is synonymous with adventure. Deep in the heart of Utah’s Canyonlands National Park, the mighty Colorado flows through a red rock wonderland and over some of the most awesome cataracts (old-fashioned word for waterfalls!) in the American Southwest. Our oar-powered rafts carry you into the most remote, least-accessible parts of the park. Hike into side canyons with cascading streams or along rocky saddles with sweeping views or to ancient cultural sites. On this iconic river rafting trip, we are privileged to experience both ultimate tranquility and adrenaline-pumping whitewater.
The river moves quietly at first, inviting you to embrace “river time”. Slide past crimson-colored cliffs and orange table-top mesas. The word “Colorado” means “red”, this red, the red of the rocks and sand that surrounds you. It’s never been so easy to unplug and let go as in these calm waters above the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers.
Once beyond the confluence, however, the river does not rest. Nowhere on its entire course does the Colorado River descend more precipitously than through Cataract Canyon. The roar of the rapids will lull you to sleep and wake you up in the morning, inviting you to go for a ride. This is Colorado River whitewater rafting at its best. Run more than 30 big rapids, including Mile Long, Ben Hurt, and the granddaddy of them all, The Big Drop, where the river descends over 30 feet in less than three-quarters of a mile. Cataract Canyon rafting trips are the best natural water park in the West!
Read More: Insider’s Guide to Rafting the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon.
Featured Review:
“Fantastic! We have done more than a few rafting trips with Holiday and are impressed with how consistently excellent our experiences have been. The guides are knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly! They go out of their way to make white water rafting a fun adventure!” (Scott and Stephanie Chamberlain)